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Wednesday Campanella has just released their new music video for Kiiro no Uta (“Yellow Song”).

The song is included on the group’s EP Galapagos which was released in June last year. It is also the same song that frontwoman KOM_I sang as Kiiro in the film Neko wa Daku Mono which was released around the same time last year.

The new music video was directed by photography unit TOKI who shot the above-pictured image for the Galapagos EP. It was produced by Takayuki Moriya of film production company NION.

This marked TOKI’s first time directing a video where they played with light and made it meld into the world of the song itself. See the video here.

TOKI released the following statement regarding the music video: “Moving towards a point. The space between the end and the beginning. The recollections of the person that you strongly recall as you’re made to stand in that abyss. Though it feels as if your very existence is about to vanish, it is those memories alone that remain. Your spirit then begins to absorb into those memories. You are sent to a new life as you’re wrapped in impervious tenderness. The colour you observe when you get there is yellow.”

KOM_I also commented: “This is an important song. It’s written based on the cats in the movie [Neko wa Dakumono] but I wanted it to be revived as a song for humans. The album it features on had already been released, and I was said that it had become a song of the past. So I had TOKI shoot a video for it. I feel yearning as well as safety and security in their work as a married couple.”

She continues: “A year has passed since the album was released, but with TOKI shooting a video for it now, it still feels like now. Unearth the flower of eternity. Let it be spring, let it be summer.”

WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA Releases New EP ‘YAKUSHIMA TREASURE’

In addition to the new record, the group also released an 8-part documentary series entitled “Re:SET” on YouTube Originals. It was shot at Yakushima which inspired the EP’s lead track Yaku no Jitsugetsubushi and shows the recording process of the track’s music video. It features appearances from WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA’s KOM_I and Oorutaichi and the music video’s director Sojiro Kamatani. The first two episodes are available to watch for free and include English subtitles.

EP 1 The Origin of KOM_I | Re:SET:

Episode one covers the origin of the group’s vocalist and sole performer KOM_I including her childhood and turning points in her life. It also shows the arrival to Yakushima. In 7 episodes, fan can gain an insight into KOM_I’s story with Yakushima which has been a pivotal influence in her life. The final episode is the music video for Yaku no Jitsugetsubushi.

Comment: KOM_I

“I played sumo with Yakushima while being watched over two aliens, Oorutaichi and Sojiro Kamatani. I originally wanted to simply name [the EP] ‘YAKUSHIMA,’ but right during production Oorutaichi’s child was born. The Kanji [in their name] is different but you read it ‘Takara’ [‘treasure’] which I thought was wonderful so I added ‘TREASURE’ into the title. It makes me thankful for being born, for being able to sing with celebratory feelings, for being able to experience life and death.”

Comment: Oorutaichi

“She let her voice out in the vast natural environment of Yakushima. We recorded lots of sounds: rivers, the ocean, wind and rain. We added hints of conversations we had with people we met on the island. We created something that imagines being saved by KOM_I’s singing and inspirational power where time is lost and you give yourself up to the island’s nature which never ceases to bud and rot. I would be overjoyed if people can feel this new relationship with humans, nature and music.”

Japanese Music Artists Performing Overseas in 2019: Part 2

With March almost at an end, the number of Japanese artists announcing performances overseas continues to rise. This is a list of 7 Japanese artists performing outside Japan in the first half of 2019.

・TK from Ling Tosite Sigure

TK from Ling Tosite Sigure has received huge international attention for his collaborations with Tokyo Ghoul which have been enjoyed by countless non-Japanese fans on music streaming services. This includes unravel which was used as Tokyo Ghoul’s first opening theme, and katharsis, the second opening theme for season two of Tokyo Ghoul:re. The singer is set to take his ‘katharsis Tour’ to Asia this April.

Kana Hanazawa is lauded for her immense work in voice acting. She is also hugely successful as an artist and singer.

Hanazawa is set to become the first Japanese female solo artist to perform at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai on April 14, 2019. She boasts overwhelming popularity in China for her work in anime as well as her hit songs. Her Chinese fans’ dreams are about to be realised as she performs for them a long-awaited show.

RADWIMPS dropped their recent album ANTI ANTI GENERATION in December last year and recently announced a live tour which includes their first ever solo stadium show. The band are also set to perform two dates at the 2019 Strawberry Music Festival in China.

ONE OK ROCK has become one of the most popular Japanese rock bands overseas. They recently released their first album in nearly two years Eye of the Storm on February 13, 2019 and have announced a 10-date UK & European tour set to take place throughout May.

Aimer recently announced that she will head to Asia in June on a 5-date tour entitled Aimer “soleil et pluie” Asia Tour. She previously performed in Asia last year alongside amazarashi, but this marks her first ever solo tour thhere. The theme of the tour is “sun and rain” which ties in with the concepts behind her forthcoming albums Sun Dance and Penny Rain.

Suchmos will release their 3rd studio album THE ANYMAL on March 27, 2019. The rock group are currently knee deep in their 2019 arena tour and are set to perform alongside HYUKOH in Seoul, South Korea in June. Tickets go on sale on April 2 at 12:00 (South Korea time).

It has been announced that Wednesday Campanella will perform at the Second Sky Music Festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland, California on June 15. This marks Wednesday Campanella’s second time performing at a festival in the US following her appearance at Camp Flog Gnaw in October 2017.

WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA Announces New EP ‘YAKUSHIMA TREASURE’

WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA have revealed they will release a new digital EP entitled YAKUSHIMA TREASURE on April 3, 2019.

The EP will be released alongside a 7-part YouTube Originals documentary series entitled Re:SET which covers KOM_I’s trip to Yakushima. It is there that she made several trips and stayed there, talking with locals and carrying out field recordings while creating the EP. This release was originally supposed to be a single song, but as she blended in with the nature and people of the island more and more ideas sprouted to mind, resulting in the release of a full EP. The entire record is produced by Oorutaichi, who has worked with WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA before and who accompanied KOM_I on her trips.

Check out the trailer for the documentary below.

The trailer features the EP’s lead track Yaku no Jitsugetsubushi as well as a sneak peek at its music video. The documentary will premiere on YouTube Originals on April 3, 2019 at 6:00pm (JST).

KOM_I will talk about the EP and documentary in an upcoming YouTube live stream on the day of release. She will be joined by Oorutaichi as well as the music video director Sojiro Kamatani, the CG creator, documentary producer and others. Find the link and details below.

KOM_I made the following brief comment regarding the upcoming releases: “I played sumo with Yakushima while being watched over two aliens, Sojiro Kamatani and Oorutaichi. Hakkeyoi, nokotta!”

Japanese Music Artists Performing Overseas in 2019: Part 1

As we make headway into the new year, information on Japanese artists performing outside of Japan continues to roll out. This first article covers Japanese artists set to perform concerts overseas in the first half of 2019.

・Perfume

The global popularity of multi-platinum electro J-pop group Perfume is clear for all to see, with their latest album Future Pop released back in August charting in at No.1 in 20 countries across the world. And now, international fans in the US and Asia will be excited to hear that the trio are set to hit a city near them in March and April this year.

Kenshi Yonezu took the charts by storm in 2018 breaking many records with a string of singles. While riding this wave of success, it has been announced that Yonezu will embark on his first ever arena tour which begins today on January 19. Two dates in Shanghai and Taipei have been added to the tour.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, and what better way to kick off it off than performing at Lollapalooza Chilie in March. Before they do however they will first perform at PA’L NORTE 2019, a 2-day music and art festival in Monterrey, Mexico. They are part of a line-up consisting of big names such as Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and Santana.

Taichi Mukai is in the midst of his 2018-2019 “Pure Tour” to promote his newest album PURE. The artist is gaining much attention not just in Japan but across Asia too. Mukai is set to perform in Asia for the first time beginning on March 22.

HYDE started his solo music career up again last year and has various planned for 2019. He performed at L’Arc-en-Ciel’s 2018 Christmas live show “L’ArChristmas” and will embark on an Asia tour in March.

GARNiDELiA released Kyoki Ranbu on September 26 this year, an album compiling every song from their internationally acclaimed online dance series including their hit song Gokuraku Jodo. The pop rock duo have announced that they will embark on their biggest Asia tour to date including shows in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Wednesday Campanella is no stranger to performing solo concerts and at festivals outside Japan. The next place to be graced by KOM_I’s incredible performance is Barcelona for the Primavera Sound music festival.

To all lovers of J-pop, J-rock and any kind of Japanese artist or band living outside Japan – if an artist is coming to a place near you, show your support and don’t miss the opportunity to see them live.

Writer: Heir

Wednesday Campanella to Perform at Spain’s Primavera Sound Music Festival in 2019

Wednesday Campanella Release New Song ‘Ikiro.’ in Collaboration With yahyel

Wednesday Campanella are currently knee-deep in the Asia leg of their 2018 Galapagos Tour, but that hasn’t stopped them from releasing a new song today titled Ikiro. in collaboration with Japanese five-piece indie pop band yahyel.

Wednesday Campanella’s frontwoman KOM_I met the vocalist of yahyel Shun Ikegai by chance at the end of last year where they discussed the possibility of making a song together. The song was first performed at this year’s Summer Sonic Festival and it received rave reviews from fans.

The lyrics were written by Ikegai and KOM_I themselves and the song was composed by the two of them along with yahyel’s Miru Shinoda and Wataru Sugimoto.

The single’s CD cover is an infrared photograph taken by Japanese photographer Yusuke Yamatani featuring KOM_I and Ikegai at night on the streets of Shibuya. The use of infrared brings out the outer layer of the ‘real Tokyo’ that’s hidden to the normal eye.

Wednesday Campanella’s 10-date Asia tour finally began on October 12 to a sold-out venue at Music Zone @E-Max in Hong Kong.

As fans waited for the performance to begin many of them were gathered around the merchandise area to check out out the latest items from the group. Excitement seethed throughout the room.

The first song of the night was Kiiro no Uta during which vocalist KOM_I was bathed in warm and magical yellow lights produced by Hikari Asobi, a lighting team that has followed her on tour since Japan.

This was followed by Chupacabra which saw fans’ nerves lifted to gradually begin dancing one by one. “You can do anything!” shouted KOM_I after which she moved onto Momotaro (Remix), evoking excited shrills through the venue.

Towards the second half of the set, an enormous pink cloth suddenly appeared overhead during Uran-chan, covering everyone in the room. KOM_I left the stage and entered the crowd. The pink cloth then took on the form of a dome and ladders were set up in the middle of everyone. KOM_I climbed up and sang Itoshii Monotachi e while overlooking fans.
Away went the cloth, and standing atop the ladders, KOM_I sang Ikkyu-san. Everybody came together to sing the hit track.

The last song of the night was Marco Polo (Remix). KOM_I descended the ladders and as if being swallowed whole passed the fans as she sang and left out the exit, concluding the set. Lots of fans chased after her and she continued to walk.

There are 8 dates left on the tour: 4 in China and 4 in Japan. Next on the list for KOM_I is Guangzhou.

Information

Galapagos Tour

2018/10/12 @Music Zone @E-Max, Hong Kong (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/13 @ Legacy TAIPEI, Taipei (Start – 19:00)

2018/10/17 @ MAO Livehouse, Guangzhou (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/19 @ Tango 3F, Beijing (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/20 @ ModernSky Lab, Shanghai (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/21 @MAO Livehouse, Hangzhou (Start – 14:00)

2018/11/7 @ STUDIO COAST, Tokyo (Start – 19:30)

2018/11/10 @ Sapporo Factory Hall, Hokkaido (Start – 18:00)

2018/11/30 @ Misono Universe, Osaka (Start – 19:00)

2018/12/8 @ Namura Hall, Okinawa (Start – 18:00)

Ticket details can be found on Wednesday Campanella’s official website:

Wednesday Campanella Releases Live Video Ahead of Asia Tour

Wednesday Campanella’s much-anticipated 10-city Asia tour finally begins this week. In the run up to it, a compilation video has been released showcasing footage of KOM_I live at the Kawaguchiko Stellar Theater on June 30 and July 1.

Yuichiro Fujishiro―who has directed numerous videos for Wednesday Campanella―is responsible for directing and shooting footage shown in the video. It features four whole minutes across both days of the show from different angles where we see KOM_I singing and dancing in the water, lights and by fire.

The footage includes lots of songs from Wednesday Campanella’s latest EP, Galapogos.

The Asia tour will begin on October 12 in Hong Kong and run until December, wrapping up in Okinawa. If Wednesday Campanella are coming to a place near you, book a ticket and see KOM_I’s dazzling performance for yourself.

Information

Galapagos Tour

2018/10/12 @Music Zone @E-Max, Hong Kong (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/13 @ Legacy TAIPEI, Taipei (Start – 19:00)

2018/10/17 @ MAO Livehouse, Guangzhou (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/19 @ Tango 3F, Beijing (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/20 @ ModernSky Lab, Shanghai (Start – 20:30)

2018/10/21 @MAO Livehouse, Hangzhou (Start – 14:00)

2018/11/7 @ STUDIO COAST, Tokyo (Start – 19:30)

2018/11/10 @ Sapporo Factory Hall, Hokkaido (Start – 18:00)

2018/11/30 @ Misono Universe, Osaka (Start – 19:00)

2018/12/8 @ Namura Hall, Okinawa (Start – 18:00)

Ticket details can be found on Wednesday Campanella’s official website:

Wednesday Campanella Announces First China Solo Tour for October 2018

Japanese music group Wednesday Campanella, spearheaded by vivacious frontwoman KOM_I, has announced additional dates in China for their Galapagos Tour.

The 4 additional concerts come as KOM_I’s first performances in China since the Strawberry Music Festival this year in Shanghai and Beijing in April and May respectively. The solo tour will take her to Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

A nationwide tour in China is a big deal even for Wednesday Campanella, who has performed at many music festivals and played many times overseas. KOM_I even set up an account on Chinese social media platform Weibo and has already received a flood of messages of fans looking forward to her visit.

Wednesday Campanella’s Galapagos Tour will take KOM_I on a ride of 10 performances in Asia, including Japan, from October 12.

Concert Review: Wednesday Campanella’s Performance at OFF FESTIVAL 2018 is a Huge Success

Wednesday Campanella performed at this year’s OFF FESTIVAL in Poland on August 4. The outdoor music festival has taken place in the city of Katowice since 2006. In 2017, UK news magazine The Guardian ranked it in their top 10 list of music festivals in Europe.

There was a sliver of rain on Saturday night. The evening turned late, and the crowd began to chant “Wednesday! Wednesday! in unison, during which the intro to Eisei began to play, signalling lead vocalist and sole performing member KOM_I to step onto the festival’s Experimental Stage. She was greeted with huge cheers and a round of applause from the crowd, which rippled from the front row all the way outside the tent area. KOM_I got the crowd going even more as she straddled over the front of the stage for Momotaro (Remix) and Uran-chan.

During Matilda, the crowd lost sight of KOM_I, who reappeared on a smaller stage that had been prepared in the middle of the crowd. She sang Gogh with all she had surrounded by everyone before returning to the stage.

The singer went on to perform new songs including Minakata Kumagusu and Mizaru Kikazaru Iwazaru, as well as The Bamboo Princess during which KOM_I danced within the dazzling lights, her silhouette looking like a fairy. Once the song was over, the claps and cries didn’t stop, and the crowd began stomping their feet.

“I’ve never seen such a wonderful audience! Thank you!” KOM_I commented. The Polish audience, who enjoy their music with everything they got, matched perfectly with the music of Wednesday Campanella.

Having performed in Asia, the US and now Europe, Wednesday Campanella is now being received in Europe little by little. We look forward to seeing how it all pans out.

Wednesday Campanella made their first ever appearance at the music festival Les Eurockéennes de Belfort, which was held in Belfort, France.

This year will mark the 30th Les Eurockéennes de Belfort music festival. This year it took place at the protected natural park Malsaucy and ran over the course of four days. Wednesday Campanella took to the “Loggia stage” on the third day of the festival. This year, the third day entertained approximately 30,000 people and approximately 135,000 gathered at this large festival over the course of the four days.

As the introduction to their first song “Eisei” started, the audience gathered closer to the stage, and singer KOM_I appeared before them. During the remix of Momotaro, a large sheet appeared onstage, filling the air and flowing like a wave. KOM_I was swept into the centre, shaking it about whilst dancing and singing. French dancers took part in her performance of Uranchan, dancing a rhythmical dance alongside KOM_I.

KOM_I then took a pause to introduce herself to her audience. “Hello! We are Wednesday Campanella”, she announced, greeting the audience in French and causing a roar of approval. “Today I’ve come along with a friend – is it alright if I call them on stage?” she said, and with that, French band Moodoïd appeared and they performed their collaboration song “Matryoshka”.

Later, they performed “Yuta”, during the start of which two large, transparent green balls appeared and KOM_I entered into one of them. The balls were illuminated so that the audience could see her silhouette as she entertained the crowd. Afterwards, Wednesday Campanella moved on to performing “Minakata Kumagusu” and then “Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru”, which heightened the spirits of the audience, who couldn’t help but dance along. KOM_I shouted, “let’s sing together!” and the audience joined in.

During the last song “Marco Polo (Remix)”, once again, a large inflatable balloon was thrown onto the audience and KOM_I climbed to a slightly elevated platform at the side of the music booth to bid farewell to the audience. She left barefoot and with that, the performance came to a close.

After the live performance, we asked a front row French audience member what they thought of the show. Their response: “It was the best! As a fan of Japanese music, I’m constantly looking at loads of Japanese songs online. I discovered Wednesday Campanella two years ago and immediately became a fan – now they’re my favourite band. Today was my first time seeing them live and I can’t express just how happy I am. Her songs are so upbeat that you surge with energy – it’s like having the energy of a school child again! “they said.

Next, Wednesday Campanella will travel to Poland to take part in the “OFF Festival 2018”. The band are also preparing for their “Galapagos tour” around Japan.

Photographer: Mariko Kurose

■Information

Galapagos tour

Wednesday 7th November 18:30/19:30 /STUDIO COAST (Shinkiba, Tokyo)

Saturday 10th November 17:00/18:00 (Factory Hall, Sapporo)

Friday 30th November 18:00/19:00 (Misono Universe, Osaka)

Saturday 8th December 17:00/18:00 (Namura Hall, Okinawa)

Ticket prices: Standing・¥4500 (Tax included, does not include drink fee)

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